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The Brazilian business culture- emotion is a part of communication

"Emotions are there. Communication without obvious feelings is simply not possible. When a Brazilian person is mad that it is shown immediately. You don’t have to guess at there feelings- it oozes.” Speaking is Flávia Witmer the Brazil expert in the team of Expertise in Labour Mobility and born in  Brazil from a Dutch father and a Brazilian mother.

If I accidentally step on my mothers tow if she’s grumpy, the neighbours can hear, with my dad you can only notice a reaction when he is really mad. But, my mother and I can watch Bambi crying. It is possible to oppress such everyday emotions and a Brazilian person does not understand why these feelings should not be shown. Brazilians do not feel any shame about these feelings and show them quit easily to the outside world. This leads to funny situations, both when I am in the Netherlands but certainly when I am in Brazil.”

Brazilians speak quit easily about personal details. You can meet someone in de supermarket and know their life story in 10 minutes. My family asks without any shame about the relationships of my friends. Communication is very open en personal there.

Business etiquette: charm has no time
Even in the Business traffic  communication fulfils an important role, wear the authenticity of emotions is very important. Business relations maintain close contacts and trust is essential to do business. There, emotions play a part again and especially the authenticity and the intentions are important. “You don’t do business with someone else because they offer you the best deal, you do business with others because the became your friends and they offer a good price”.

If you as a foreigner go to Brazil to build up a business relation, take your time. In the Netherlands you as a foreigner can be in the country for  a short time and just visit the people with whom you have an appointment. In Brazil it is unthinkable to be in the country and not visit all your friendly relations. Distance is no excuse! Often these contacts are less formal. A diner or lunch accompanied by family is not unusual. Remember that despite the obvious emotions, Brazilians are always treated with great respect by each other. Especially in a business context. Never go into discussion, just exchange opinions.
 
Sao Paulo is a bit more Western orientated than the  North, but business deals are only made when there is a win- win situation for both parties. ’Actually it is just like a dance, you show each other what you can win by the contact. That mutual advantage makes negotiating a game that is played with all awe.”
 
Career tips for Brazil.
It is made clear: To build personal relations is very important in Brazil. And to find a job can only be successful trough networking. That sounds difficult. But in a country were people are aimed on relationships with others it is actually quit simple; have an honest interest in the people you meet an the rest will follow. Not on its own of course but honest interest is an important point to start with. To know the language is very important. Without knowing Portuguese it is impossible to work in Brazil.

Networking in Brazil is different from networking in the Netherlands. “It is all about making real contacts, it stays less at the surface in comparison with the Netherlands and there is more, way more talking. Send e-mails regularly to greet your contact in Brazil but without an regular phone call- and better a personal visit- the contact is not worth quit a lot.

So, search for your job in Brazil, save for a ticket because preparing can be done by internet and e-mail but for the real application you have to be there.
 
Source: Wereldexpat
Publication date: 18 augustus 2009
Author: Nannette Ripmeester
Remark: This article was shortened for redactional reasons.

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